[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6243549,"mediaKeyId","3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d","parentId",3238322,"title","Lacey Township committee approves first readings, resolutions, hire and grant insertion at May 7 caucus","audioSeconds",189,"startMs",994000,"endMs",1183000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d&start=994&end=1183","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d/thumbnail_994000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243549/New-Jersey/Lacey-Township-committee-approves-first-readings-resolutions-hire-and-grant-insertion-at-May-7-caucus","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243549-b7b347c266604dddaab83c57be589367/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162206&Signature=MPbZnBNm~7RcRTHHDtV4nngAEbi1QTCr8wEQ09knIbl-hDRFmu96kBOAg3WXpYSqeHBPP9KfHHFKQsSQFP4X8jO3OmWFXym4lcrFv5OJrQCAOpM15SjbtXbadc5viSbPS8hsPWZdTIuDwq-gj6N5WB9c4gZoWvtP3si25cHjo2b5xyoaP0j78BvxlxFraSPf-FnnjEauK3W7hJU1P-VbT-W1xeT4fLHOQLUsBqoWZXhLXO6tfX7aEzKhBHlmQ3UNWbZz7tdJygPaj-KmHYFhNVnEZ2qysESAKea31J9BcJ94fPTXceDa6aVNuIRwVD-uanQHVRd7hCwuqa8OwmE7Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T13:33:57Z","article","The Lacey Township Committee conducted routine legislative business at its May 7 caucus meeting, approving first readings of ordinances and adopting multiple resolutions and appointments.

The committee approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025-09 authorizing the sale of Block 1869 Lot 13 to adjoining owners Allen and Carrie Baker for $3,800, citing authority under NJSA 40A:12-13b and NJSA 40A:12-13.0.2 as noted in the ordinance text. The committee also approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025-10 to vacate portions of Arthur Street and Bayonne Avenue (paper streets) and Ordinance 2025-11 to amend chapter 269 (peddling and soliciting) to include a fingerprinting requirement for vendors.

On resolutions, the committee approved: Resolution 2025-172 calling for the restoration of energy tax receipts to municipalities; Resolution 2025-173 appointing Joanne Priest to the Municipal Alliance Committee; Resolution 2025-174 authorizing the employment of Evan Cypress as a full-time mechanic for the Department of Public Works; Resolution 2025-175 inserting a special item of revenue and appropriation in the 2025 municipal budget for the New Jersey recycling tonnage grant in the amount of $50,154.51 (pursuant to NJSA 48:4-87); Resolution 2025-176 authorizing the tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills; and resolutions authorizing refunds and the payment of township bills.

The committee authorized payment of township bills totaling $9,509,710.45 during the meeting. Roll-call responses for the ordinances and resolutions were recorded as affirmative in the transcript for committee members present; one abstention was recorded on the bills payment item (member identified in the record as abstaining).

Committee members characterized these items as routine municipal governance steps. No substantive debate or amendments to the items were recorded during the caucus meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Meeting 5-7-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 7 caucus meeting, the Lacey Township Committee approved first readings of ordinances selling a municipal lot to an adjoining owner, vacating paper streets, and expanding peddling rules, and adopted resolutions including a recycling grant insertion and a hire for the Department of Public Works.","taxTitle","Lacey Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",53772,"location","New Jersey","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6243554,"Residents press committee over school taxes, accuse school board of missteps at Lacey Township meeting",1244,4172000,5416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d&start=4172&end=5416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d/thumbnail_4172000.jpg","/articles/6243554/New-Jersey/Residents-press-committee-over-school-taxes-accuse-school-board-of-missteps-at-Lacey-Township-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243554-496c7c2781a0e8995eb0895bdc87d771/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162206&Signature=CjSnQ~ttNBUi2~URiKHNWaLJYpibj7mi7Ck60IiIO7ppg9INl67Oi86qkFGthxq2Nvu48Qz-3dtwg6gjPOc84cn8Tjx3caSqhbkAzDgK58tgbgfNf8pOTz-emdcmjxce-hTNoB4FC-t0aDXkX8EKZc3BOAijlJLlL1BoLBzuh7f9SOy7eHYSpnya0qtDYLgCaIXVxs~ItS0AtDEWN~95fpthOzoTgjf~0romk8jehFt9ORPNiEs6bmxIatbC1yLVIwUFwKVz-EjiOWWp1CX94OLjMKaVynsdwSTzOJmGdHoRUPlRsb7C01r1ZHGOzP~et1Fqp7Ix6pE6m2bUAr-G7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and organized critics pressed the Lacey Township Committee on May 7 about rising school taxes and the school board's handling of the budget, saying the increases threaten seniors and long-term residents.

A frequent speaker identified in the meeting as Bidnick, who described himself as leading a citizens group, criticized the school board and teachers' unions and said recent increases have been severe. \"We sacrificed last year 10%...and it's gonna be even and they made cuts, and now it's even gonna be worse,\" Bidnick said, adding that a combined effect of a 9.9% increase last year and a 7.54% increase this year amounts to roughly a 17.5% tax increase for some homeowners.

Several other residents raised related concerns. Regina DeCenza, who said she spoke from Sunrise Beach, disputed a perception that many neighbors were selling homes and described continuity in housing turnover as limited; she also reported that the Municipal Utilities Authority maintained water pressure during the fire. Joe Branciford (Seabreeze) and others described community fundraising to support volunteer firefighters and warned that shifting policy or exemptions for specific groups could increase burdens on remaining taxpayers.

Mayor Kuratala and committee members said they oppose unfair funding formulas at the state level and called for greater accountability and transparency from the school district. Kuratala suggested steps the township can take to pressure for academic accountability and transparency, including posting regular updates about academic programs and exploring alternate revenue or communications strategies, but did not record a formal directive to the school board at the meeting.

No formal votes concerning school funding or district governance occurred at the caucus meeting. Public commenters urged the committee to advocate more forcefully on behalf of residents without school-age children, who several speakers said comprise a majority of households.","Multiple residents used the May 7 caucus meeting to criticize the Lacey Township School District and its budget process, citing large tax increases (a reported 9.9% last year and a 7.54% proposed increase this year) and calling for greater accountability and transparency from the school board.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6243559,"Lacey Township honors volunteer firefighters, police after massive wildfire; local cheer team donates to departments",610,150000,760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d&start=150&end=760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3238322-8d783c762e588056cac3e55d1ea8f44d/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6243559/New-Jersey/Lacey-Township-honors-volunteer-firefighters-police-after-massive-wildfire-local-cheer-team-donates-to-departments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243559-560528e21559bfe6fd8d4f2ffac30383/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162206&Signature=THFILPOm5qr~tD18gb5frwvT-yExzAhADNpw0GbuLM9TlJ5z9jjDgxNS2A4bhq6vwYfMZTJV3HhJi36S6EJXnS8pFXRc0Vza6Wi-G2qpseFOHRTpnpq-sOVi1ix6g9AcsYGrC8eAr3e4wdAxHwhQsy3thqmSAvpW23-WFEz8OE14aJBPO-ZK-PUDFpVCc4iY2ixhn3Rlo3XWtes1nedTPOBxmPIibLGEqIYcLEx9XD7OcJ79EOFlLIZziqLAzkXNcbAcWZ3cwjmVcrHvRkKl3jm1nQ4QS6AYQuX8MwCS9U5aX1C6EJTO4slJmeT7vNfIRURbG3h3rVIiqeq8~DSd0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lacey Township Committee and residents publicly thanked volunteer firefighters and police for their response to a recent wildfire during the committee's May 7 caucus meeting.

Marylyn Halliday, owner of Pride Elite Competitive Cheer, told the committee she and families from the gym signed thank-you signs and brought a monetary donation for local responders. \"We were especially grateful because the night of the fire, it came so close to our building, and we really thought we were going to lose it,\" Halliday said, adding that athletes and families prepared the signs and donation because of what responders did that night.

Mayor Kuratala and other committee members repeatedly praised the work of volunteer firefighters and police. Kuratala said the incident was \"an absolute master class in preparation, execution and excellence,\" noting that, by her account, about 15,300 to 15,500 acres burned and that \"not 1 single family home was lost.\" Committeeman Nick McDonald called the community's donations and volunteers an example of citizenship.

Deputy Mayor Kenneth and other officials urged residents to support volunteer fire companies financially. Kenneth said the fire companies operate as volunteer organizations and described donations and local fund drives as among the most helpful support the departments can receive.

The committee took no formal policy action at the meeting related to the wildfire; the agenda item was a public recognition and presentation of donations. Officials said they continue planning after-action reviews to identify improvements to communication and response for future emergencies.

The presentations and public remarks emphasized continuing community support for volunteer departments through donations and participation in local fund drives and noted the ongoing operational demands on volunteer organizations.","At its May 7 caucus meeting, the Lacey Township Committee and residents publicly thanked volunteer firefighters and police for their response to the recent wildfire. Pride Elite Competitive Cheer presented donations and thank-you signs; committee members praised the response and urged continued community support for volunteer departments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lacey Township committee approves first readings, resolutions, hire and grant insertion at May 7 caucus

Residents press committee over school taxes, accuse school board of missteps at Lacey Township meeting

Lacey Township honors volunteer firefighters, police after massive wildfire; local cheer team donates to departments